Improvement in clamps for bridges



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Lucius E.' TRUEsDELI-i, lor eHIoAGo, ILLINos.

Leners Patent No. leases, dans July 2e, 1870.

"IMPRowEMENT IN cLAM1=s PoR BRIDGES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it mayconcern Be it knownthat 'I, L UcIUs E. TRUEsDELL, of

Chicago, county of Cook and Stategof lllinois, have invented a new and useful Method offCorrugating Iron Bars used in Bridging; and I do hereby declare that the following is aclear and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying` `drawings makingA partof this specication, of which- Figure 1 isa longitudinal section of block..

Figure 2`is an end elevation of block. y

`11`igures3, 4, 5, and 6, views of corrugations.

This invention consists of an inproved and 'peculiar coiistructionof clamp, the ,purpose of 'which is to tie down the ends of the tension-rods or dagouals `to the upper and lower chord of a bridge.

, ,In -the drawings, in which"the saine lettersrefer to identical partsi b b represent the two parts of the clamp. `These parts are formed `with a broad central recess, for the admission of the upper and lowercbord, as clearly` shown in figs. 1 and 2.

` This recessis made of equal, or nearly` equal, depth in each, so as as to -embrace one-half part of theA thickness of the ch'ord in each, and passes from side to side of the clamps. y

-Diagonally across this recess are also formed grooves i on m, of such width and depthas to admitor embrace theends of the tension-bars' or diagonals, as shown `in figs. 3 and 4.

The ends'of these diagonalsfmay either be' plain or corrugations; but where the ends of the tension-bars are plain, then their inner faces are halved onto the chord, that is to say, a recess is formed on their inner face ofsuch size and shape as toembrace the chord," l over which they are made to pass diagonally, the

grooves m fml being then yleft plain or uncorrugated.

The grooves in the clamp, in which the diagonals are placed, must be formed of sniiciept depth to admit the entire thickness ofthe diagona'ls. On the inner surfacev of the chord recess formed in the clamps are arranged, on the one-half,two lugs, and'on the other two depressions or indentations, which respect- 'ively takeinto corresponding depressions, and receive .corresponding lugs, arranged relatively on the sides of the chord embraced bythe clamp. 4

This arrangement is for the purpose of preventing the clamp from slipping on the chord. The post may rest on the top of the clamp, for which purpose a recess may be formed on its upper side to receive the foot of 'rae post, and vice versa, or in anyother suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent of the United States, is-

Theclamp, formed of VJche parts b b, constructed as described, to clamp the chord and the ends of the ties ordiagonals, when the parts are arranged substantially as set forth.

L. E. TRUESDELL'. fitnessesz G. R. HOFFMAN, JAMES H. FABRELL. 

